Lot 207: A superb Urhobo Eshe shrine post

Urhobo, Nigeria; H: 80"

Exceptional in its level of refinement, not often seen to this extent among the Urhobo canon of style. The superb monumental post comprising a seated ancestral figure with top hat, the upper portion of the column bearing zoomorphic and human imagery. Some insect depredation to the base, however, overall excellent condition for its age.

Comments:
The Urhobo of Nigeria live among the rivers of the Niger delta. The large figural art of the Urhobo is chiefly related to depicting aggressive and courageous ancestors (or lineage founders) or specific village spirits. Founding ancestors known as Eshe are often conceived as a single, central post in the lineage meeting house. In the case of the Gelbard example, the post is carved to depict the founding lineage ancestor. This particular post represents Ovwha, who, according to oral tradition, was one of a group of “exceptionally influential traders who attained immense success in the palm oil trade.” [Foss, 1976. 20] Originally owned by the Agbarho clan in Orherhe Village, this post, described by Foss as “the largest and ichnographically most complex,” was created around 1890. The figure of Ovwha holds a ritual knife in one hand, and a prestige cup in the other and is seated beneath a large upper section, depicting snakes, a crocodile and a female figure; each having esoteric meaning to the elders of the clan. [Foss, ibid.] Within the corpus of Urhobo figural carving, this post remains one of the finest, most perfectly-conceived and delicately rendered images of a powerful and semi-mythical ancestor.

Provenance:
- Zollman Collection, IND
- Gelbard collection, NY

Publication History:
Remnants of Ritual: Selections from the Gelbard collection of African Art (2003) Bourgeois & Rodolitz; Pg. 21, Fig. 48

Where Gods and Mortals meet: Continuity and renewal in Urhobo art (2004) Foss, P.; Pg. 45, Fig. 17.

Exhibition History:
Exhibition History: USA: "Remnants of Ritual, Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African Art":
- University Park, IL: Governors State University, February 2003
- Krannert, IL: Krannert Art Museum, 26 August-26 October, 2003
- Kansas City, MO: Belger Art Foundation/UNIVERSITY of Missouri-
Kansas City, 2004
- Park Forest, IL: Tall Grass Art Association, 2005

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